Automatic hydraulic treating-table.



i o. A. MILLER. AUTOMATIC HYDRAULIC TREATING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. l2. 1916.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

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AUTOMATIC HYDRAULIC TREATING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I2. 1916.

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APPLICATION FILED AUG. I2 |916. I

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

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A0. A. MILLER.

AUTOMATIC HYDRAULIC TREAT'ING TABLE. APPLICATION FILED AuG.I2. 19m.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

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0. A. MILLER.

AUTOMATIC HYDRAULIC TREATING TABLE.

APPLICATION rlLED AUG.12. 19m. 1,205,649..

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Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

Il'N w el? 1 0. A. MILLER.

' AUTOMATIC HYDRAULIC TREATING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I2, 1916.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916;

6 SHLETS-SHEET 6.

UNITED sri-iras vl`rarirrr OFFICE.

'.oTIs A. MILLER, or LAW'TON. OKLAHOMA.

It is the object of myf'invention to prov vide a table of this description comprising a v pair of' independently and relatively adjustable supporting members, together with hvdraulically-o-perated means, for effecting ytie vario-us movements of which the parts of the table are susceptible.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide a tabley of this description capable of operating automatically to give the stretching o traction treatments which are advantageous in certain conditions.

The invention will be more fully understood from'the following detailed descrip.` tion ofa specific embodiment. thereof, and',l vfrom the accompanying drawings illustra.-

tive of the-same.

In these drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved table; Fig. 2 is a top plan view; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view ofthe table-tops; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the supports, the table-tops being removed; Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section through the movable head-end oi'gthe table, taken substantially on the line 5 nof Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the harness-adju`sting drums, substantially on the line 6 of Figs. 3 'and 5; Fig. 7 is an enlargedbroken sectional view through one of the tilting cylinders; Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional vi'ew. throu h the Stationary or foot end of the table, ta ien on the line 8 of Fig. 4; Fig. 9 is a transverse section onv the line 9 of Fig 8; Fig; 10 is an enlarged horizontalosection thro-ugh the controlling valves;Fig. 1,1 is an enlarged vertical section, partly in elevation, of the valve structures, the section being taken on the line 11 of Figs. l0 and 13;. Fig. 12, a section on the line 12 of Fig. l1; Fig. 13 is a still further enlarged section, taken on the line 13 of Fig.

11, showing the automatic reversing controls for the valve and showing also, diagrammaticallv the Hind pressure circulating Specivcation of Letters Patent.

'AUTOMATIC HYDRAULIC TREATING-TABLE.

Patented N ov. 21, 1916.

Application led August 12, 191. Serial No. 114,546.

system and the electricaly control therefor; F1g. 14 r1s a sectional view, partly in elevat1o-n, of the reversing rod for the valve; and

. 15 is a section on the line l5 of Fig. 13.

.Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 20 designates the stationary supporting casting for the foot end of the table structure, and the numeral 21 designates the traveling support for the headend. The latter member, which is carried by casters 22, is connected with the stationary standard 20 by a telescoping hydraulic cylinder and piston construction, the cylinder, ydesignated 23, being secured in the stationary support 20, and the piston 24 in the traveling support 2l, the construction and arrangement. of these parts being best illustrated in Figs. 5 and 8.v As will be noted from an inspection of the latter ligure, the p1ston is ofl the single acting or ram type,

,being provided with the usual cupleather 25, and for eecting the mechanical nreturn of the piston, there is provided a helical yspring 26 which encircles a rod 27 secured .by a set-screw 28 in the stationary casting 2(1), the spring abutting at one end against a nut at the outer end of the .rod and at the Aother end against the'base of the piston.

The head and foot tables, designated 29 and 30, are each directly supportedl upon rams 31 and 32, respectively, operating in vertical bores in the base-members 21, 20.

The rams, which are of identical construction, are provided at their lower ends with the usual cup-leathers. and, in addition, each 'ram carries means for positively limiting its upward stroke, such means comprising a small plunger 33 `operating against a spring in a transverse bore 34 adjacent the lower end of the ram. The outer ends of the plungers are inclined downwardly, as shown, to coperate with the oblique surfaces 35 of notches or grooves extending aro-und approximately 180 of the periphery of the ram cylinders adjacent their upper ends.

The plungers,33 are properly splined to secure them against rotation, and in order that they may at all times be held in the proper position, as shown in Figs. 5 and 8 of the drawings. By turning the rams 31 and 32 to such angular position as to take the plungers 33 out of the path of the grooves 35, t e lrams may run completely out of their cylinders, but in the normal position of the parts, the spring-pressed plunger will engage the notch to positively lock the ram at the predetermined upward limit of movement.

Each of the table-tops 29 and 30 is secured to its ram by a horizontal pivot 36, and the outer or free ends of the two tops are supporteyd by inclined telescopic, hydraulically-actuated struts, which are designated 37, 38 for the two tables, respectively. Vlhe lower end which forms the cylinder for each strut is secured by a fork 39 pivoted to a split ring 40 embracing, and rotatable upon, the supporting standard. To lock the ring, and, through it, the strut and table, against such rotation, there is provided a winged set-screw 41, which forms the pivotbolt for one end of each fork, and passes colnpletely through the ring 40 for engagement with the surface of the standard. rlhe piston or plunger of each of the struts 37, 38 is provided with the usual cup-leather, as illustrated in Fig. 7, and, at the outer end, is pivoted to the under face of the table. For a purpose which will later appear, the strut 38 has formed thereon a hook 42 (Figs. 1 and 8) for coperating with which the table 30 is provided with a pivoted shackle A harness of any approved form may be used in connection with the tables 29, 30, and' for purposes of illustration I have shown the table 30 as equipped with a waistband 44 (Figs. 1 and 2), the tugs of which are brought together and secured by a pivoted hook 45 at the' free end of the table, while the table 29 has a breast-strap 46 and a collar 47, each provided with two tugs or traces caught over pivoted eveners 49 which are attached to independent cables 50. The cables 50 pass through an appropriately curved tube 51 (Fig. 5), pivoted to the lower face of the head-end of the table, the cables being then extended rearwardly and wound upon independent drums 52 sleeved over a common shaft 53 extending transversely of the lower face of the table, the

entire assembly being supported in brackets 54, as illustrated in Fig. 6. Each of the lcable-drums 52 is provided with a ratchetwheel 55 with which coperate lockingpawls 56 which are normally held in engagement by springs, but may be released b v hand-levers 57 secured to their shafts. The shaft 53 has pinned thereto between the opposed end faces of the drums 52 a driving-d isk which carries pins 58 upon both faces, the space between the drums being suicient to permit the pins to engage selectively' with mating apertures in the drums, so that by axial movement of the shaft 53 it may be used for turning one or the other of thev two drums.

For controlling the movements of the five hydraulically-actuated devices described, that is, the two struts, the two rams, and the telescopic connection between the stationary standard and the traveling standard, there is provided the valve arrangement illustrated in Figs. 10 to 15. A valvecasting 59, which may be mounted upon the stationary standard 20, is bored to form of the bores being adapted to register selec' tively with an inlet-port 69 in the casting 59, with an exhaust port 70, or to be blanked by occupying a position intermediate these two ports. The other. two bores 68 are arranged in pro er angular relation to the rst bore, so t at one of the former will register with a communicating passage 71, leading to the selector-Valve when the master-valve is in registration with either the inlet or outlet ports 69 and 70. When the master-valve occupies the intermediate position, the arrangement thus described will provide a double seal, that is, boththe eX- haust and inlet ports 69 and 70 and the communicating passage 71 will be blanked. The lower end of the master valve 63 is projected to form a squared stud 72, on which there is secured a disk 73 having in its periphery a pair of ratchet notches 74, with which cooperate pivoted locking-arms 75, the arms extending beyond the disk and having their extended ends coupled by a tension spring 76. The disk 73 also carries an arm 77, the

free end of which has caught therein the ends of'a pair of opposed springs 78 mounted upon a trip-rod 7 9 which telescopes within a supporting-tube carried byv the traveling standard 21, as shown in Fig. 1. A thumb-screw 81, provided in the outer end of the tube 80, may be loosened to permit the trip-rod to slide freely within the bore of the tube, or may be tightened to lock the telescoping-members together in any desired position of adjustment. A trip-lug 82 projects laterally from the trip-rod 79 into the path of the extended ends of the arms 75. The two arms 75 may be locked in a central position and sufficiently spread apart to clear both of the ratchet notches 74 by a pivoted latch-plate 83, which is adapted to engage over the ends of the arms, as shown in Fig. 15. n

The electrical connections, as well as the hydraulic system employed in the apparatus are diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 13. For supplying fluid under pressure to the table-actuating means, there is provided an electric motory 84 driving, through a suitable gear train 85, a fluid pump 86. Thev outlet side ofthis pump is connected by a pipe 69 with the inlet 69 of the mastervalve, while the inletsde of the pump is fed by a pipel 85 from a reservoir 86', intowhich the exhaust or. outlet-port l7() of the mastervalve' discharges, as through the conduit The motor 8O is controlled by the actuation of the master-valve 63 through the switch mechanism illustrated in Fig.l 13,

4which comprises a stationary spring contact 87 which lies in the path of almovable contact-arm 88 mounted upon, but insulated from, the disk 73. The contacts are so related as to come into engagement and thereby energize the motor 84 when the mastervalve is in the position indicated by Fig. 10. In the cut-olf or exhaust position of the valve, the contacts disengage and permit the motor to stop. V l

In general, my table is designed to provide means -by which a human body may be supported in practically any position desired for treatment, vsuch adjustment of the table being eiected either before the patient is placed upon the table, 0r when he is resting there. Since practically all ofthe operative movements of the table which re-r quire any `force' are effected by hydraulic pressure, itbecomes as easy ,to shift the position of the table lWhile the patient is on the same as when the table is unloaded. In this respect, my device is superior to the manually-adjustable tables, in that, with the latter, it is more convenient, and, in fact, usually considered necessar to set the table in proper position be' ore the patient mounts the same. In general, the two sections which comprise my table are independently adjustable, 'as to height, inclination and horizontal angular position. Thus, for instance, the selector-valve 62 may be turned to such position as to register with the conduit connectedl withl the cylinder of the traveling standard 21, and the master-valve 63 being then turned to the inlet position, the electrical contact will be closed between the points 87, 88, to start the motor 84,

.whereby fluid under pressure is admitted to lift the ram 31' and thereby elevatet-he head-end of the table 29. During such movement, the table will tilt upon its support on the strut 37. When the head end of the table has been brought to the proper position, the master-valve 63 will be turned to the cut-oi' position, the selector-valve rotated to register with the conduit kcommunicating 'with the strut 37, and, the master-valve being again turned to the inlet position, fluid pressure will act to elongate the strut 37, thereby tilting the tablesection 29 upon its pivotal support 36. Similarly, the selector-valve having been placed in the appropriateposition, the master-valve may be turned from the cut-oil' position 4 to the exhaust-position, and ythe weight of the table will then act to force the ram 31 or the strut 37 downwardly, accordingly as one or the other has been selected. It is therefore clear that by proper manipulation of the selector-valve and master-valve, each of the'two table-sections may be raised or loweredvand fixed at any angular position withinthe range of the apparatus and at any horizontal level, the two table-sections being entirelyindependent of one another with respect to their movements and adjustments. Andl so, also, the traveling standard 21 may be moved toward or away from the stationary. standard 20 to space the tables 29, 30, to bring them into any desired relationship by the proper op, eration of the selector-valve and mastervalve. |Ihe operation of the cylinder and piston 23, 24, by which this last movement 'isv elected, diifers only from t'he operation of the other cylinders and'pistons described in that the return of the traveling standard 21 is eli'ected, not by gravity, but by the tension of the spring 26, which need only be of sufficient strength to overcome the frictional resistance of the parts in their movement in the horizontal plane.y l u f` In general, my table is adapted for all' those uses for which devices of this kind are designed. The particular fea-turev of the table; however, is the provision which is made forthe automatic functioning of the same in carrying out stretching or trac' tion treatments, in which the spine, or other portions of the anatomy of the patient, are to be subjected to periodic tension of a regulated amount. For carrying on such treatment in one way, the table-sections may be arranged in theposition in which they are shown in the drawings, the patient being strapped or harnessed, as there illustrated. The latch 83 (Fig. 15), by which the two paWl-arms 75 are normally held in inoperative position, is released, and, the standard 21 having previously been adjusted in proper spaced relationship with the table 30, and the shackle 43 dropped over the hook 42 to prevent the strut 38 from further elon gating, the trip-rod '7 9 is moved to the right, as viewed in Fig; 13, until the left-hand face of the trip-lug 82 is spaced away from the left-hand arm 7 5 by the distance through which it is desired the patient to bestretched. The set-screw 81 is then tightened; the se-v lector-valve 62 is put into communication with the cylinder 23, and the master-Valve 63 turned to the inlet position. The left hand arm 75 now drops into the coperating ratchet-notch 7 4, thereby locking the mastervalve in the inlet position, and simultaneously thev traveler 21 begins to move away from the stationary standard 20, thereby stretching the patient upon the table. In such movement, the trip-rod 79 will be carried to the left, while the arm 77 on the master-valve remains in the position indicated by the drawing,.the springs 78 permitting this relative movement of the parts. At the predetermined limit of stretching, the trip-lug 82 will contact the end of the pawl 75, releasing the latter from the ratchet-notch, and by the tension of the lefthand spring 78, the arm 77 will be quickly pulled to the left, thereby turning the master-valve to the exhaust position. The spring 76 will simultaneously act to engage the right-hand arm 75 with the corresponding ratchet notch, and the valve will therefore remain locked in the exhaust position while the traveler moves toward the stationary standard 2O under the influence of the spring 26. In this movement, as before, one of the springs 78 will be tensioned, and, at the limit of movement, the trip-lug'82 will actuate the right-hand pawl, and the valve will snap back to the inlet position. rIhe patient will therefore be alternately stretched and released for such period as is deemed necessary, the table acting automatically to secure this result. The amount of stretching to be administered in any instance may be adjusted by adjusting the initialV position of the trip-rod 79. The machine may be lstopped at any time during the stretching operations, either by' moving the selectorvalve 62 to a position in which it will blank the communicating passage 71, or by moving the master-valve manually. To reset the machine for normal operation, it is then only necessary to loosen the set-screw 81, by

which the trip-rod is locked, and to spring the pawl-arms 75 apart and secure them in such position with the latch 83.

While I have shown and described in considerable detail one specific embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this showing and description is illustrative only, and for the purposecf making clear the nature and objects of the invention, and that I do not regard as essential any of such details.

The invention is not to be regarded as lim- `ited to the illustrative features shown, ex-

scribed, a pair of supporting standards, lony gitudinally adjustable connections between said standards, a table-top carried by each of said standards, and means foradjusting the inclination and elevation of each of said table-tops. 4 v

3. In a treating-table of the class describeda stationary standard, a traveling standard, connections between the two standards for positively moving the traveling standard toward and away from the stationary standard, and a body-supporting surface carried by each of said standar s.

4. A treating-table of the class described, comprising relatively movable body-supportlng surfaces, a Huid-pressure cylinder connected with one of said surfaces and a coperating piston connected with the other surface, and means for 'controlling the supply of fluid to the said cylinder to effect relative movement of the two surfaces.

5. A treating-table of the class described,

comprising, in combination, a stationary standard having a body-supporting surface mounted thereon, a traveling standard having a body-supporting surface mounted thereon, and telescoping luid-pressure-actuated connections between the said standards for effecting relative movement thereof. 6. A treating-table of the class described. comprising a pair of relatively movable body-supporting surfaces, and automaticall operable means for reciprocating said sur aces with respect to one another.

7 A treating-table of the class described, comprising a stationary ,standard having a body-supporting surface mounted thereon, a traveling standard arranged in spaced relation to the stationary standard and having also a body-supporting surface, telescopic luid-pressure-actuated connections between the said standards, and means actuated by relative movement of the standards for eiecting continuous reciprocation of the traveling standard.

8. In a treating-table of the class described, a base-member and a table-top, a fluid-pressure cylinder connected with one of said members and a coperating piston connected with the other member, and a strut provided with means for adjusting the same longitudinally and having one end pivoted to said table-top at a. point remote from the first-named support thereof and having its other end pivoted to the said base.

9. A treating-table of the class described, comprising a base, a telescopic fluid-pressure-actuated vertical support mounted thereon, atable-top carried by said support,

and a telescopic Huid-pressure-actuated strut having one end connected With said table-top at a point remote from said first- -named support thereof, and the other end connected to said base.

l0.A A treating-table of the class described, comprising a pair of spaced base-sections, a vertically-adjustable support connected with each of said sections, table-tops each having one end carried by such support, and extensible struts each having one end connected to one of said table-tops at a point remote from its first-named support and the other end connected With the corresponding base-section.

1l. A treating-table of the class described, comprising a stationary base-section, a

traveling base-section connected therewith for movement toward and away from the stationary base, vertically-adjustable supporting members vcarried by each of said bases,'a table-top having one end mounted v on each of said supports, and an extensible strut connecting each 0f said table-tops with the correspondlng base-section.

l2. A treating-table of the class described, comprising 'av stationary base-section, a traveling base-section, a telescopic Huidpressure-actuated connection between said for effecting the adjustments of said top,

means for supplying Huid under pressure to said adjustino' means, a selector-valve for placing said iinuid supply selectively in communication with any one of said adjusting means, and an independently operable master-valve in series With said selectorvalve for admitting pressure to, or venting, the selected adjusting means.

14. In a treating-table of the class described, and in combination, a base, a tabletop supported thereon, i'luid-pressure-actu.-

ated means for adjusting said tableftop relatively to its base, a valve for controlling the admission of fluid to the said means, a fluid pump for feeding fiuid under pressure 'to said valve, and means operable by movement of the valve for controlling the operation of said pump OTIS A. MILLER.' 

